 "People gather at Saadallah al-Jabiri Square as they celebrate, after Syria's army command notified officers on Sunday that President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule has ended, a Syrian officer who was informed of the move told Reuters, following a rapid rebel offensive that took the world by surprise, in Aleppo, Syria. Reuters")
While reacting to the dramatic victory of the Rebel groups in Syria, the European Union welcomed the fall of the country’s ousted President Bashar Al Assad. Top diplomats of the EU maintained that the rebel groups’ takeover of Syria was not only a defeat for Assad’s regime but also a setback for the country’s allies Russia and Iran.
“The end of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran,” EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said in a statement Sunday. “Our priority is to ensure regional security,” she said.
In the span of just a few days, the rebel groups in Syria infiltrated and captured key cities of the Middle Eastern nation, including the capital Damascus. Amid the chaos, Assad fled Syria. While his whereabouts are still not clear, reports are emerging that Russia has granted asylum to Assad and his family on “humanitarian grounds”.
While sharing her take on the whole ordeal, Kallas emphasised that the process of rebuilding Syria will be a long one. “The process of rebuilding Syria will be long and complicated and all parties must be ready to engage constructively,” she averred.
EU watches Syria closely
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said that as Assad’s “regime lies in tatters,” “what happens in the next hours and days matters.” Meanwhile, British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner also welcomed the collapse of Assad’s draconian regime.
“What we need to see is a political resolution in line with the UN resolutions. We need to see civilians and infrastructure protected. Far too many people have lost their lives, we need stability in that region," she told Sky News. Sentiments in the EU were also shared by people in Syria as they celebrated the end of Assad’s regime.
In light of this, European leaders extended support to Syrians. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share his take on the matter. “Today we stand with all Syrians who are full of hope for a free, just and safe Syria,” Scholz wrote in his post.
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More Shorts“A political solution to the conflict in Syria is possible. With international partners and based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council, Germany will make its contribution,” he added. It is pertinent to note that it was Germany, that historically opened its doors to Syrian refugees seeking asylum over the years.
“The barbaric state has fallen. At last,” wrote French President Emmanuel Macron in his statement on the matter. “I pay tribute to the Syrian people, to their courage, to their patience. In this moment of uncertainty, I send them my wishes for peace, freedom, and unity. France will remain committed to the security of all in the Middle East,” he added.
Similar assertions were also made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “The cruel Assad dictatorship has collapsed. This historic change in the region offers opportunities but is not without risks,” she wrote. With the European leaders supporting the fall of Assad, it will be noteworthy to see how they will help Syria in the nation’s rebuilding process.